Hybrid

Inland Energy, a Newport Beach developer, has designed a hybrid power plant that officials said would be the first to combine natural gas with solar power when it opens in 2010. The company, which started in Newport Beach 26 years ago, has worked with the city of Victorville for three years to develop the plant design. President Buck Johns said the 570-megawatt plant would capture the sun’s energy on 250 acres of mirrored panels and combine the solar energy with steam from jet turbines.

Many people dream of the day they can zip along the road in a brand new sports car. But designers at Calty Design Research firm in Newport Beach dream of creating that sports car. The dream was realized in December when Calty's designers announced Toyota's first hybrid sports car concept, the FT-HS. "We started looking at our hybrid technology — Toyota being a leader in that area — and how we could optimize that. We also wanted what we would call an improved sports car driving experience that's not only eco-friendly but has enhanced performance as well," said Kevin Hunter, Calty vice president of design and studio operations.

Hundreds of species of orchids are on display this weekend at the Newport Harbor Orchid Society’s annual Oceans of Orchids show and sale at the Westminster Mall. Most of the orchids and hybrid plants on display at the event thrive outdoors in Southern California, organizers said. This year’s show also features repotting classes and free culture workshops. The free event continues 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. For more information, visit www.nhos.org . The Newport Harbor Orchid Society meets 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Ave. — Brianna Bailey

Hot off the press! Prepare for BMW hybrid assault: Just like a lot of other automakers trying to ride the green tide, one of Germany’s premium brands is joining the fray. The Sleuth has word that BMW will offer a gas/electric hybrid version of its all-new 7-series sedan in two or three years. The next generation of BMW’s premium four-door is expected to launch later this year, but the hybrid version will take another two to three years of development to finish. Sources indicate the car will use a “mild” hybrid system that was co-devolved with Daimler, which makes Mercedes-Benz.

More than 600 guests, including 105 physicians, local business leaders, staff and community supporters attended St. Joseph Hospital’s “Celebration 2009!” event in Orange County. “ We are very pleased with the contributions and raised $150,000 and the success of our ‘Raise the Paddle’ fundraiser,” says Dr. Connie Bartlett, Celebration Co-Chair and St. Joseph Hospital physician. “The proceeds will benefit the new hybrid operating room and The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment, while $46,000 from ‘Raise the Paddle’ was raised specifically for our biospecimen research program.

The news of U.S. Marine Jose Garibay's death on the battlefield in Iraq brought the war to the heart of our community, beyond our TV screens where images of war mimic a hybrid of video games and a reality TV show gone haywire. Being able to meet the family and witness the unselfish love and support they received from the community made me realize that regardless of race, religion or political opinion, the people of Newport-Mesa could come together and unite as one. Like a large family sharing the grief of losing a loved one. I hope the Garibay family understood why we, the media, had to follow their story.

As gas prices continue to rise and evidence about the damage humans are doing to the environment appears to mount, is there any growing moral or ethical reason for us to reduce our use of gas? Perhaps more to the point: Do we need to stop driving our huge SUVs? Yes! But the answer is much more complicated than that. Recently, as we went to purchase a new vehicle, I really wanted a hydrogen car, which of course is not available yet. So we then looked for a hybrid that would fit our family.

CITY OF INDUSTRY — Estancia High junior Jake Knapp and Corona del Mar senior Tanner Trauthen both needed to play catch-up if they were going to move on from Monday's CIF Southern Section Individual Finals. But both players' seasons ended on the hilly and narrow Babe Zaharias Course at Industry Hills Golf Club. Knapp and Trauthen each deemed their performances less than optimal. "I played poorly," said Knapp, who missed the cut by three strokes with a seven-over-par 78. "I did not make the putts I needed to make.

Daniel Schnyder spends nearly every day walking in Duke Ellington's footsteps. Literally. The Pacific Symphony's composer-in-residence, who will perform Thursday through Sunday at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, recently moved his family to Harlem to be close to Manhattan's cultural scene. He didn't have the funds for a spot downtown, but as it turned out, his affordable digs brought him face-to-face with musical history. One day, shortly after moving in, Schnyder was walking down the street and noticed a plaque outside a brownstone noting that Ellington, the prolific composer and bandleader, had once lived there.

A years-long debate about a Corona del Mar streetscape plan that had lain dormant since October was at least partially revived Tuesday night at the Newport Beach City Council's first meeting of the new year. The plan would have moved a lane merge on East Coast Highway at MacArthur Boulevard and eliminated parking spaces to make way for enhanced pedestrian areas and possible outdoor restaurant seating. Over the summer, the city installed temporary barriers to test the proposed plan's impacts on traffic through the area.

In a marathon meeting that concluded after 3 a.m. Wednesday, the Costa Mesa City Council pushed through plans to outsource the city jail and street-sweeping services to private companies. "Today is a momentous day, a great day," said Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer. "... I know we're going in the right direction, and I think by the time this is over I think the rest of the city will too. " Councilwoman Wendy Leece, who cast the lone dissenting vote in 4-1 splits on the jail and street-sweeping measures, said such an important decision should not be made in the early-morning hours, when most community members have gone home.

CITY OF INDUSTRY — Estancia High junior Jake Knapp and Corona del Mar senior Tanner Trauthen both needed to play catch-up if they were going to move on from Monday's CIF Southern Section Individual Finals. But both players' seasons ended on the hilly and narrow Babe Zaharias Course at Industry Hills Golf Club. Knapp and Trauthen each deemed their performances less than optimal. "I played poorly," said Knapp, who missed the cut by three strokes with a seven-over-par 78. "I did not make the putts I needed to make.

Hundreds of species of orchids are on display this weekend at the Newport Harbor Orchid Society’s annual Oceans of Orchids show and sale at the Westminster Mall. Most of the orchids and hybrid plants on display at the event thrive outdoors in Southern California, organizers said. This year’s show also features repotting classes and free culture workshops. The free event continues 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. For more information, visit www.nhos.org . The Newport Harbor Orchid Society meets 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Ave. — Brianna Bailey

More than 600 guests, including 105 physicians, local business leaders, staff and community supporters attended St. Joseph Hospital’s “Celebration 2009!” event in Orange County. “ We are very pleased with the contributions and raised $150,000 and the success of our ‘Raise the Paddle’ fundraiser,” says Dr. Connie Bartlett, Celebration Co-Chair and St. Joseph Hospital physician. “The proceeds will benefit the new hybrid operating room and The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment, while $46,000 from ‘Raise the Paddle’ was raised specifically for our biospecimen research program.

ORANGE, Calif — More than 600 guests, including local business leaders, physicians, staff and community supporters, will attend St. Joseph Hospital’s “Celebration 2009!” event on Saturday, September 26 at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Anaheim 777 West Convention Way, Anaheim. The event is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year in Orange County and will benefit St. Joseph Hospital’s new Hybrid Operating Room and The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment.

ANAHEIM, Calif.-An auction and dinner to benefit St. Joseph Hospital’s new Hybrid Operating Room and The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment is scheduled for September 26 at the Hilton Anaheim. Tickets are $350 per person and $3,500 per table. The St. Joseph Hospital Foundation’s Celebrate 2009 event will begin at 6 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, featuring travel packages, electronics, sporting packages items created by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange and more.

Hot off the press! GM, Chrysler talk merger: Well, well. The last time the Sleuth wrote about The General discussing alliances with other car companies, Chrysler was part of DaimlerChrysler and the world was a different place. At that time it was about “synergies.” Now it might be out of necessity. The word out of the Motor City is that Chrysler and GM are discussing a possible merger that could involve Cerberus Capital Management Inc. (owners of Chrysler) taking over GM’s remaining minority stake in GMAC financial.

A hobby is a good way to combat the stresses of the struggling economy and the mudslinging of the presidential election, so this week we decided to check in with John Amir from the Train Crossing. The Train Crossing, at 1089 Baker St. in Costa Mesa, is a family-owned and -operated store that specializes in model railroading. When did the Train Crossing first open its doors? The Train Crossing first opened about 20 years ago but has been a train store under a different name for nearly 40 years.